Old Town Houses in Grein

Attractions of Grein
The earliest documented reference of the parish Grein is on the occasion of the foundation of
the abbey Waldhausen in the year 1147 . The Danube has dominated the development of Grein
, which is excellently situated on ist bank.
The pilots of Grein navigated rafts and boats through the hazardous waters near Grein and laid
the foundation for the prospering middle-classes . The undamaged main-square with the
Renaissance, Baroque and Biedermeier houses is a wonderful testimony of this period.
Parish Church
The late Gothic Parish Church with a late Baroque Dome is consecrated in the
Name of St.Giles. The alter painting from Bartolomeo Altomonte depicts St.Giles and a doe
and has been given a lively Baroque surrounding . The main entrance was originally situated
in the tower gangway, but after a murder on this site it was walled –up in 16OO. Opposite the
former main entrance stands the grave stone of Hans Jakob Löbl, deceased 1562, formally
Governor of Upper-Austria and owner of the Greinburg . Near the southern side-exit is a gravestone
with the alto-relievo of Siegmund Prüschenk, count of Hardegg , builder of the Greinburg ,
deceased 15O2. Within the church is a magnificent pulpit showing the four church-doctors ,
which was endowed in 1679 by the Lady of the Manor, Anna of Dietrichstein.
Mass celebrated Sundays and other feasts at 7 am and 1O am.
Castle Greinburg
Between 1491 – 1493 the brothers Heinrich and Siegmund Prüschenk, later the barons of
Stettenberg and counts of Hardegg, built with the permission of the emperor Friedrich III ( deed
from 1O.march 1488 ) one of the first castles in the German speaking world . The castle present
appearance was given during the occupation of count Leonard Helfrich of Meggau , who
inherited the castle 1621. The castle changed ownership many times and till it was bought in 1823
by the duke Ernst I of Saxony-Coburg and Saalfeld ( after 1826 Saxony-Coburg-Gotha) from the
mayor of Hainburg Josef Fink . Since this day the Greinburg has remained in possession of the
dukes of Saxony-Coburg-Gotha, respectively the family Saxony-Coburg-Gotha trust (since 1928) .
particular attractions are one of the largest and most beautiful Arcadian courtyards from the late
Renaissance , a Gothic cell-vault , an impressively large knights –hall with adjoining chapel and
one of the most beautiful Christmas altars in Austria.
Then there are the Coburg rooms - a family museum of the house Saxony-Coburg-Gotha and not
to forget the “stone-theatre” , which is a jewel from the 17.century .
Castle guided-tours by arrangement from 1.april to 31.october, information: tel.:o72 68/3O9 or
7OO7.
Castle Greinburg also houses the Upper-Austrian Maritime Museum, which gives a historical
account of shipping on the Danube, Inn, Enns , Salzach and Traun . The Danube navigation ,
especially negotiating the difficult currents between Grein and Samingstein was the basis for
the prosperous middle-class in Grein. The folksong “Als wir jüngst in Regensburg waren, sind wir
über den Strudel gefahren....” relates to the eddies in Grein.
Opening times: 1.-31.may and 1.-31. October daily except Mondays from 1O am to 12.noon and
1pm to 5 p.m. .
1.june – 3Oseptember , daily except Mondays from 1O.am to 6 p.m. .
Information: tel. O72 68/ 7OO7.

The old Town-Hall
It was built in 1563 by the Italian master-builder Max Canaval from lake Como. The Canaval
family was also involved in the construction of the Linz
Council buildings ( Upper –Austrian State Government) . Also involved in the project was the
“Welsche Builder “ Jakob Kurz . The building is unchanged to the present day, later a granary was
built onto the Town Hall, which was converted into a theatre in 1791.
Old Town –Theatre
This impressive theatre , built in Rococo-style, is the oldest secular theatre in Austria , preserved in
original form . During the month of July and August a professional troupe play in the theatre and
in autumn a local group of actors and actresses. Tickets available from the bookshop Hinterecker
(tel.O72 68/ 373). The first three rows of seats were built in a style that is the only still existing . The
seats can be folded and locked , which give them the name “Sperrsitze”. The theatre was
furnished and decorated by hand-workers from Grein. Two further curiosities should not go
without mention, first of all the “Council Dungeon” and secondly an unusual archaic toilet.
More information by the guided tours , which take place regularly between 1.April and
31.October at 9 am , 11 am, 1.3O p.m. and 4 p.m. Special tours by appointment.
Bookings: Tourismusverband Grein , tel./fax O7268/7O 55
St.Anthony House (Main entrance Klostergasse 6, second entrance Dampfschiffgasse Nr.3) Built
originally in 1622 for the course of the counter reform , as a Franciscan monastery. On the smooth
wall surface are windows with flat – profile stone surroundings and on the ground floor to the
left is a oval ox-eye shaped window with a primitive wooden frame . A stone door surrounding
with fan –light and the original wooden doors from around 18OO.
From the upper-storey one can reach part of the former cloister gang-way which has a long
barrel-vault with cruciform-groins. From the side is a view onto the monastery-courtyard with a
fountain with a octagonal granite surrounding . The cloister gangway borders the courtyard on
three sides . The monastery was dissolved during the reign of emperor Joseph II and later used as
a administration building and jail. The building is now used as originally intended for
contemplation and spiritual devotions .
The Town Fountain
Situated on the town-square the fountain is otherwise known as the Meggau-Fountain , which was
built in the year 1872 . The fountain was built to honour the count of Meggau who cared for the
social welfare of the inhabitants of Grein. The first fountain was built as early as 16OO, this fountain
now stands in front of the church in Bad Kreuzen .
The Stone Fountain
It is situated on the Danube side of the new town-hall, in documents referred to as “Gigerlitz
Fountain” , was built by the Italian master stone-mason Spozzi around 1636. The coins thrown into
the fountain should enable the donators a happy return to Grein. It is also said of the fountain,
that people who have drank from it often return to Grein.
Halter Cross
Situated on the Danube, it was erected before the “ Schwalleck”, formally a dangerous
hazardous part of the Danube. It reminds us of the wondrous rescue of the shepherd boy (Halter)
from the Danube currents.
Blue Cross in Kreuzner road

(Situated after the railway viaduct), this monstrance like wayside shrine was erected in 165O by
Sigmund Ludwig, count of Dietrichstein, praising the end of the thirty-years war.
Kalvarienberg-Chapel
A functional building , which displays life-size figures of the crucified, the two thieves, as well as the
three assisting figures: virgin Mary, Saint Magdalene and Saint John. The mounted sculptures are a
fine example of late Baroque expression from the late 18. Century
Old Town Houses in Grein
Town-square Nr.3. Imposing gable-house – constructional core from 16.century. The fascia is made
of original graffito bands, with ornamental chimera revealing rhombi and circular patterns . On
the upper storey is an interesting net-vault displaying narrow graphic groins and lightly alveolate
spandrels.
Town-square Nr.4 . Core 17.century, within are barrel-vaulted rooms with caps which have piped-
groins.The facade is designed in neo-gothic
style. The oriel- tower is decorated with a unusual amalgamation of ornamental Renaissance
fittings and “ Jugendstil” from around 19OO.
Town-square Nr.5. A former inn from the mid 16.century, a wide twin building with rounded orieltowers
and a –covering several axis – continues recess on a protruding corbel stone. The
windows have profiled stone surroundings . On the upper level there are small windows mounted
in stone frames with typical protruding fluted outer-sills. The interior has a barrel-vault with pointed
caps from the mid 17.century .
Town –square Nr.6. Former boat masters house – an immense cube formed building- the core
being 16.century – with a round corner tower on stepped corbel stones. On the smooth , largely
unbroken wall surface is a rustic window frame which was built into the plaster in the mid
18.century. On the upper level , surrounding the courtyard on two sides is an elegant arcade,
mounted on stone piers. The somewhat characteristic balustrade is divided into quadratic
segments and stands on several heavy, stepped corbel stones and stone piers ( entry through
gate) . In the coffee –shop is a ceiling with wooden beams and chip-carved ornaments . The
interior is in typical Biedermeier-style from around 19OO.
Town-square Nr.8. Large construction built on a u-formed ground-plan , at it´s core, 16.century,
mainly smooth unbroken wall-surface with modest ornament . Smooth horizontal stripes between
the storeys, all windows have flat-bar frames sunk in plaster.
Feldgasse—corner Hauptstraße , characteristic decoration in stucco plinths. On ground-floor are
skylights from around 183O
Town-square Nr.9. Sloping gable-house with attractive late Baroque striped decoration .
Donaugasse Nr.1. 16.century, house gate mounted in Roman-arch style stone surround . On ground
-floor are two wrought –iron lattices from around 182O-183O. Within a very wide cruciform-ribbedvault.
Donaugasse Nr.3. Facade has characteristic terracotta decoration – mid 19.century
Donaulände Nr.4 ( Formally Donaugasse 15) Remains of terracotta ornamentation from around
185O. In flat recesses are four putti playing musical instruments.
Hauptstraße Nr.2. Old house built on to the church at the rear , core 16.century. Built along side
the Donaugasse, with notably deep , almost slot-like segmental arched windows. Entrance door

has a smooth late Baroque stone surround with a horizontal oblong skylight from the late
18.century. The interior has a net-vault with noticeably graphic groins. Shop from late 18.century—
above is a window with sills from the mid 16.century—on the roof is a dormer window from the
Baroque period.
Hauptstraße Nr.3 ( Goldene Krone) Large road-side gable-house with modern facade decoration
– core is 16.century from which several attractive vaulted rooms remain . On the ground-floor (
guest room) is a ceiling with wooden beams treated in ox-blood.
Hauptstraße Nr.5. Road-side gable-house – core 16.century with Biedermeier facade.
Hauptstraße Nr. 8. Neo-Baroque facade decoration made up of industrial plaster plinths .
Hauptstraße Nr.1O. Formally guest house Goldener Hirsch , core 16.century . The facade
ornamentation is with industrial decorative plinths from the mid 19.century , the layout is
reminiscent of Biedermeier and is from the year 183O. Within is a wooden beamed ceiling
decorated with chip-carvings from around 17OO.
Hauptstraße Nr.11. The core is 16.century. The interior has a cruciform-ribbed-vault with graphic
groins. House door with fittings from around 18OO.
Hauptstraße Nr.17. Original terracotta ornamentation from mid 19.century.
Hauptstraße Nr.2O. Road side gable-house with characteristic facade decoration from the mid
19.century. Ground-floor reminiscent of the period from around 182O.
Hauptstraße Nr. 26. Constructional core is late Gothic with flat oriels standing on corbel stones. On
the side facing the road is a sloping gable .
Hauptstraße Nr. 34. Late Baroque building with a flat triangular pediment above the centre.
Hauptstraße Nr. 39. Road side gable-house with modest plaster structuring in late Baroque style .
Hauptstraße Nr.43. High road side gable-house with notable facade ornamentation from the mid
19.century. Wrought-ironed name-plate in key-form from around 18OO (Mäander, Rosette) .
Hauptstraße Nr. 45. Constructional core 16.century. Formally iron-mongers house with Biedermeier
facade decorated with rocaille . In the courtyard are two window lattices made of wrought-iron
from around 182O.
Sun dial on the Danube promenade . Since the summer of 1993 the bank of the Danube, in the region
of Esperanto-square is enriched by the presence of a remarkable measurer of time , which was
designed and built by the physics and astronomy student Werner Riegler from Grein. This type of
sun dial carries the name equatorial sun dial, by which the shadow created by a cord running
parallel to the axis falls onto a scale. From a semi-cylindrical dial it is then possible to read the
time, with a tolerance of around two minutes. The dials frame work is made of chrome- nickelsteel,
the dial and scales are made of brass. Additional to the time indication there is a granite
ball mounted at the front. This globe, with the continents engraved into it, has the sun shining
down onto it, in the same way as the earth itself. It is therefore possible , observing the shadow
boundaries to identify the countries in which the sun is actually shining. The fascinating aspect of
such a sun-dial , is that the way it functions is easy to understand – consequently learning the
relationship between the earth´s and sun´s movements without any difficulty.
Information and bookings for city- and theatre guided-tours:
Tourismusverband Grein, Tel/fax: 07268/70 55
e-m@il: info.grein@upperaustria.or.at